Scottish government plans to force Catholic schools to teach about gay marriage and where to get condoms

By Deacon Nick Donnelly, on January 14th, 2014

The Scottish government has announced plans to force Catholic schools to teach children about gay marriage, where to get contraceptives and be tested for sexually transmitted diseases. The Express reports,’The new guidance calls for sex lessons in Catholic schools to be brought into line with that of other schools, where pupils are given explicit lessons about contraception and gay sex.’

‘Scottish Government ministers intend to legalise gay marriage and are demanding that the curriculum should reflect the change in the law. And they are about to issue guidelines for schools which could see Catholic schools forced to teach pupils about the issue. Ministers also believe every pupil should learn about local sex clinics where they can get contraception and tests for sexually transmitted diseases.’

‘The SCES has encouraged the Scottish Government to move beyond the grudging tolerance which this draft and the original guidance showed towards the right of Catholic schools to follow Church guidance when teaching about sexual health and relationships, including marriage. We expect it, in its final guidance, to honour Nicola Sturgeon and Mike Russell’s assurance it has ‘no intention of requiring any denominational school to act contrary to the guidelines/policy established by the SCES or other religious authorities with a role in denominational education’.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government made it clear that the government expected the compliance of Catholic schools, “Denominational schools, like any other local authority schools, are subject to inspection by Education Scotland on the quality of their learning and teaching.”

Before Christmas the Scottish parliament rejected clauses aimed at protecting the religious freedoms of to protect religious freedom of clergy, celebrants, and teachers.

The Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee voted against proposed changes to the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill by SNP and Labour members that were aimed at enhancing protections for religious bodies and celebrants, potential foster carers and adoptive parents, and public authority workers who do not support same-sex ‘marriage.’

Opponents to the bill believe that, in its current form, it does not do enough to prevent celebrants being sued if they refuse to carry out same-sex ‘marriage’ services. They also fear that teachers bound by an ethos opposed to the changes, such as those in Catholic schools, will be forced to teach their pupils about same-sex ‘marriage’ and potential adoptive parents could lose out unless they support same-sex ‘marriage.’

SNP MSP Richard Lyle had proposed changes to introduce a clause stating that a potential adoptive parent or foster carer’s views on marriage cannot be taken into account during the fostering or adoption process.

Mr Lyle, who adopted his daughter 31 years ago after a lengthy process, said the law could stop children being adopted

The committee rejected his proposal during its consideration of stage two amendments, along with several other amendments designed to protect religious freedom.

Amendments from SNP MSP John Mason aimed at ‘bolstering protection for those with religious views who do not wish to participate in same-sex ‘‘marriage,’’’ and ‘protecting expression of belief in marriage between persons of different sex’ were also voted down.

Protect the Pope comment: The homosexual rights juggernaut continues to crush the rights to religious freedom of churches and individuals in the British Isles. Expect the same disregard of religious freedom over in Ireland when Catholic Enda Kenny introduces gay marriage.

43 comments to Scottish government plans to force Catholic schools to teach about gay marriage and where to get condoms

Deacon Nick ,
I wonder if this intention will be altered in any way by the Scottish Independence vote?
Seems a high risk strategy from the SNP-presume it is SNP?-dominated Scottish Government.
Is this designed to provoke a showdown over Catholic schools and funding generally in Scotland??
Must admit-not very au-fait with matters north of the Tweed……

Catholic parents must object and protest. Nobody has a right to encourage and promote sin, especially in innocent children. The Church must show leadership….and stop this. Otherwise…they must threaten to close Catholic schools, especially if Catholic parents do not support the Church.

I certainly don’t want the ‘morals’ of politicians for my children! Euw.

At one time we could say the Conservatives are better. We no longer can. The excellent Michael Voris has shown how the once Conservative Fox empire has become homophilic. Much the same can be said of the Daily Telegraph etc.
This is one area where Christians of different denominations can work together. So many of us suffer from “homophobia”, a real fear of the homosexual rights juggernaut.

How can you state that Enda Kenny is still Catholic, when by their works shall you know them? I hope I am not speaking wrong or ill of somebody who is serious ill before God, I would ask you and your many, many bloggers, that we must make hard, hard sacrifices for his, the Scottish executive, Pat Buckley and others souls while there is still time, trusting always in the never-ending mercy of God and hoping that that mercy they will encounter.

Peter Tatchell has never advocated adults having sex with children. He does not support this. He says adults should NOT have sex with children. He has never advocated the abolition of ages of consent. He has said that if young people of similar ages have sex below the age of 16 they should not be prosecuted, providing they both consent and there is no coercion, manipulation or exploitation. Treating these young people as criminals is wrong. They need counselling, not prosecution.
Read here:http://petertatchell.net/lgbt_rights/age_of_consent/Under-age-sex-Statement-of-clarification-by-Peter-Tatchell.htm

Ros Coward thinks it is “shocking” that Gay Men’s Press has published a book, Dares To Speak, which challenges the assumption that all sex involving children and adults is abusive. I think it is courageous.

The distinguished psychologists and anthropologists cited in this book deserve to be heard. Offering a rational, informed perspective on sexual relations between younger and older people, they document examples of societies where consenting inter-generational sex is considered normal, beneficial and enjoyable by old and young alike.

Prof Gilbert Herdt points to the Sambia tribe of Papua New Guinea, where all young boys have sex with older warriors as part of their initiation into manhood. Far from being harmed, Prof Herdt says the boys grow up to be happy, well-adjusted husbands and fathers.

The positive nature of some child-adult sexual relationships is not confined to non-Western cultures. Several of my friends – gay and straight, male and female – had sex with adults from the ages of nine to 13. None feel they were abused. All say it was their conscious choice and gave them great joy.

While it may be impossible to condone paedophilia, it is time society acknowledged the truth that not all sex involving children is unwanted, abusive and harmful.

Peter Tatchell

I think I got that right. Published in the Guardian it was, on 26 June 1997. He explains how he thinks that sex between men and boys – sexual abuse of boys by perverts, in plain language – is “beneficial”, “not abusive”, gives “great joy”. This man is an appalling pervert who would be better off thrown into the sea with a millstone round his neck. Granted, he has moderated his language more recently: these days, he only want to promote buggering boys of fourteen, not nine.

Civil disobedience coming closer. Catholic School Governors must refuse to implement any part of the curriculum not in accord with Church teaching, even at the risk of being taken to court.

Meanwhile we pray and fast …….and fast and pray. Maybe we could have one day a month when we all share in some penance, fasting, prayer to defeat the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph.6:12).

I am happy to suggest that we could do some extra penance on the 1st Friday of every month. I find it is easier to achieve if I know I am doing it in solidarity with others!

As far as an action plan – Christian Concern for our Nation do a lot of campaigning in these areas. I receive their newsletter every week. I will contact them and see if they can suggest some positive action.

This must be stopped:schools must refuse to do it. The analogy should be with abortion: Catholics secondary schools teach what abortion is, and that it is legal in Britain though regarded as murder by Catholic and other Christian Church. There is no obligation for Catholic schools to teach pro-abortion propaganda or to tell their pupils how and where to get an abortion. Catholic schools can, and do , invite in speakers from The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child.

The Catholic bishops must speak on this and say that Catholic Schools will teach the facts only about homosexuality including that practising male homosexuals in Britain and in most of the world and not allowed to be blood donors because of the extreme health risk. This is something the government keeps quiet about and, indeed, they tried to change it. But the medical profession would not agree, for obvious reasons. Male homosexuals may donate blood now if they have been chaste for one year ( it used to be two) but they are NOT allowed to donate blood if they are practising. Go on the national blood website and look – http://www.blood.co.uk/giving-blood/who-cant-give-blood/

Now then, how would a “stand up and be counted” group differ from “cyber platitudes”?

How would I propose catholics in positions of responsibility to stand up, etc?

1. Catholic head teachers should prevent the promotion of contraception in their schools. They should not invite sex education campaigners into their schools to teach and encourage their pupils to use contraceptives or to engage in evil sexual behaviour of any other kind.
2. All teachers in Catholic schools should be expected to teach and to set an example of Catholic ethics, in sexual and other matters. Catholic head teachers should ensure this.
3. Catholic clergy should support Catholic schools in teaching and setting examples of Catholic ethics to their pupils.
4. Catholic head teachers and Catholic bishops should be prepared to go to gaol for the sake of teaching Catholic ethics.

I could go on. I try to do my bit (no doubt I could do better) but in my state of life my influence is restricted more or less to my own children (perhaps, occasionally, to their friends). Beyond that, I admit that my powers of persuasion and influence are limited, more so even than my authority. I am no charmer. But I do try, and try not to do so in a counter-productive way.

If you, on the other hand, are in a position of responsibility in this regard, I jolly well expect you to to get cracking with points 1 to 4, above, modified as appropriate to your state of life.

As I weary of saying: I live in Portugal where I have many responsibilities.

I would willingly join a movement to promote Authentic Catholicism; and I would be most happy to raise money for it too. Obviously it would have to be a concerted effort of several like-minded people. What it require is someone to “Get the ball rolling”.

Incidentally, I regret you consider my contributions to this blog as “Wasting My Time”. Rather an unconstructive thing of you to have said, in my view.

Just posted the following on a secular education site….’I always tell my children to correct and admonish their teachers should they see fit. And to make sure teachers do not speak of anything embarrassing or shameful to them. If they do….walk out’.

I presume your comment was meant to apply to England. State schools in Scotland don’t have Boards of Governors.

Some years ago, the SNP leadership made a great effort to cultivate the Catholic vote. For example, they made supportive comments about Catholic schools. Now the SNP leadership has a problem: either they toe the line dictated by their homosexual masters or they attempt to placate Catholics. It is fairly obvious that they are choosing the former. However, it is quite possible that they believe that they can do both and they may well be right. They have gone ahead with the high-risk strategy of pushing so-called gay ‘marriage’ only months before the Independence Referendum and there don’t seem to be any electoral repercussions from having done so. The SNP is still riding high in the opinion polls for elections to the Scottish Parliament. So they may well think that they can do what they like to crush Catholic teaching in Catholic schools and get away with it. One aspect of this is that there seems to be evidence that many Catholics are quite happy about so-called gay ‘marriage’ and so won’t be the least bit bothered if Catholic schools have to teach about it. The issue then will be what action, if any, the Church authorities will take in response.

One possibility is Catholic schools demanding that parents and children uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church…and signing a document to this effect. This does not mean they are model Catholics, they mightn’t even be Catholics, but that they agree to uphold Catholic teachings. If they can’t do this…the school has every right to wre fuse admission.

It’s one thing for the parents to sign such a document, but what about the pupils themselves?

You wrote, “I always tell my children to correct and admonish their teachers should they see fit. And to make sure teachers do not speak of anything embarrassing or shameful to them. If they do….walk out.”

Do you think that should apply if a pupil objected to what they were being taught in a Catholic school?

Most modern bishops say nothing at all. That’s the scandal! Just look at Ireland.

They waffle on about The Poor and carefully ignore anything unpleasant or controversial. In any other organisation they would be sacked as total managerial flops. They’re all terrified of unpopularity from both government and, I fear, from Rome. So they do next-to-nothing.

I live in Ireland, but I, and a number of my friends, would be willing to travel to Scotland to support our fellow Catholic families if they are organizing any sort of protest against these laws. As we seem to be in the minority now on these issues we are going to have to stand together and make our voices heard. It is surely our christian duty not to give in to this bullying without a fight.

Perhaps if more Catholics get involved with Political Parties and politics in general then we can actually do something about it. If more Catholics were to become members of SNP for example then as Pope Benedict XVI implored, we will be in a better position to actually influence things. As it is, simply sitting about doing nothing and moaning on Forums is not going to do anything for us. We ALL need to get off our backsides and take an active role in the politics of our Country. This way, change is actually possible. The stark alternative is that our way of life and our beliefs will be steamrolled by those who advocate secularism as opposed to secularity.